A pediatric rehabilitation therapy audit study: A brief report

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare access
• Health services research
• Disability services

Background:

• Children with disabilities require physical, occupational, and speech therapy for development.
• Families report unmet needs and significant barriers in accessing these crucial therapy services.
• Disparities in access may disproportionately affect publicly insured and minoritized populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To audit and assess access to outpatient therapy services for children within a tri-state region.
• To investigate potential disparities in therapy access based on insurance type and racial/ethnic identity.
• To identify barriers and wait times experienced by families seeking pediatric therapy.

Main Methods:

• A prospective audit study was conducted using simulated callers posing as mothers seeking therapy.
• Access difficulties were measured by the number of phone calls needed to secure an appointment.
• The earliest available appointment date was recorded to assess wait times.

Main Results:

• Nearly half (47.4%) of simulated families experienced problems accessing therapy appointments.
• A total of 251 phone calls were made, resulting in 91 appointments scheduled across 76 clinics.
• Black and Hispanic simulated families faced greater challenges in obtaining appointments compared to other groups.

Conclusions:

• Substantial barriers exist in scheduling outpatient therapy appointments for children with disabilities.
• Racial and ethnic disparities were observed, with Black and Hispanic families encountering more access hurdles.
• Further research is needed to address systemic barriers and ensure equitable access to pediatric therapy services.